Stephen Colbert chooses between Pope Francis' socialism and Fox News capitalism

Stephen Colbert chooses between Pope Francis&#039; socialism and Fox News capitalism — (Image credit: Colbert Report)

As "America's most prominent Catholic" and also its "foremost capitalist," Stephen Colbert said on Tuesday night's Colbert Report, he was disheartened when Pope Francis recently declared capitalism "a new tyranny" caused by the "idolatry of money." After briefly taking comfort from Bill O'Reilly's insistence that Pope Francis opposes socialism, Colbert came to see that this pope really is a redistributionist of the worst kind. TV Colbert's crisis of faith — "either the pope is wrong, or God's a commie" — is funny, but it's also a very real struggle for real-life Christians living in this material world. Colbert decided to choose between God and money with a coin toss. Guess which side won? --Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.